Here & Now

Fast Facts: Wage Growth Slow in Wisconsin

Shawn Johnson:

Now we continue to provide a closer look at statements previously made by the candidates on our program. Multimedia reporter Marisa Wojcik followed up with Kathleen Vinehout and puts into context her views on Wisconsin wages.

Marisa Wojcik:

Speaking to the economy, democratic candidate for governor, Kathleen Vinehout recently told us Wisconsin needs to catch up when it comes to wages.

Kathleen Vinehout:

We need to raise wages. Wisconsin is 18th worst in the United States in wages, worse than Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee.

Marisa Wojcik:

Wisconsin has been hovering in the bottom half of these rankings. First let’s look at the median hourly wage which is the midpoint of the wage scale with half making more and half making less. The median hourly wage was $17.81 for a Wisconsin worker, 19.84 in Minnesota and $18.12 nationally in 2017. But some say a more accurate picture is in what’s called real wages which accounts for inflation and determines how far your dollar can go. A May report from the Economic Policy Institute showed that from 2010 to 2017, there was a 1.3% increase in real wages nationally and 2.4% increase in Minnesota and only 0.3% increase in Wisconsin. With Wisconsin’s unemployment at record lows, some expect wages to increase in order to attract more workers. Vinehout has called for Wisconsin to raise its minimum wage from its current $7.25 an hour. Starting in 2014, Minnesota began a series of minimum wage increases. A June policy brief found that these increases have had a negative impact on some young and low-skilled workers. Both Minnesota and Wisconsin were some of the first states to enact minimum wage laws in 1913. For these and other fast facts, visit wpt.org.